California Emerging Technology Fund
Annual Report 2012–2013 Table of Contents
(Hold down the Ctrl key as you click on a Table of Contents entry to jump directly
to that page.)
Close the Digital Divide: A Call to Action for Vision and Leadership ..................... 6
Statement from Michael R. Peevey, Chairman, California Emerging
Technology Fund; President, California Public Utilities Commission ................ 6
Broadband Empowers People and Transforms Lives ........................................... 7
Statement from Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary for
Communications and Information Administrator, National Telecommunications
and Information Administration .......................................................................... 7
Get Connected! ..................................................................................................... 8
Closing the Digital Divide Is Imperative for California ........................................ 8
New Public Policy and Additional Resources Are Needed ................................ 9
Significant Progress Has Been Made with Focused Leadership ....................... 9
Empower People and Transform Lives ............................................................... 10
California Earns Top Grades ........................................................................... 10
Trend Line for California and U.S. Broadband Adoption ................................. 11
Goals for Success: 98% Deployment and 80% Adoption ................................... 11
Supply – Deployment ...................................................................................... 11
Demand – Adoption......................................................................................... 12
California a Global Leader in Deployment and Adoption ................................. 12
Outline of 5 Overarching Strategies to Close the Digital Divide ...................... 12
1. Civic Leader Engagement .................................................................... 13
2. Venture Philanthropy Grantmaking ...................................................... 13
3. Public Policy Initiatives ......................................................................... 13
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4. Public Awareness and Education ......................................................... 14
5. Strategic Partnerships .......................................................................... 14
5 Overarching Strategies to Close the Digital Divide: Achieve 98% Deployment
and 80% Adoption............................................................................................... 15
1. Civic Leader Engagement ........................................................................... 15
2. Venture Philanthropy Grantmaking ............................................................. 16
Sidebar Quote from Carol Whiteside,
Partner, California Strategies, LLC ........................................................... 17
3. Public Policy Initiatives ................................................................................ 17
Digital Literacy.......................................................................................... 17
School2Home........................................................................................... 18
Telehealth –Telemedicine ........................................................................ 20
Smart Housing ......................................................................................... 21
Smart Communities .................................................................................. 22
4. Public Awareness and Education: Get Connected! ..................................... 23
5. Strategic Partnerships ................................................................................. 24
Global Broadband Penetration as of December 2011 Measured by
Subscribers per 100 Inhabitants and GDP per Capita (USD PPP, 2011) 24
Sidebar Quote from Dr. Barbara O’Connor, CETF Secretary................... 24
California Advanced Services Fund Is Key Resource for Deployment ................ 25
Progress Continues on Broadband Adoption ...................................................... 26
California Broadband Adoption Percentage by Population Served .......... 27
California Broadband Adoption Percentage by Region ............................ 27
Sidebar Quote from Ken McNeely, President, AT&T California ............... 27
Sidebar Quote from Tim McCallion, West Region President, Verizon ...... 27
Partners Contribute to Progress.......................................................................... 28
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California Emerging Technology Fund Summary of Grant Investments .......... 28
Acknowledgements .................................................................................. 32
Grantees Meet and Exceed Performance Goals ................................................ 32
Performance Charts ............................................................................................ 33
ACT and BAA – NTIA Grant: Total Media Impressions ................................... 33
California Emerging Technology Fund Grants: 2008 Progress Through
December 2012 ............................................................................................... 33
CETF Investments Attract ARRA NTIA Grants ................................................... 34
Broadband Awareness and Adoption .............................................................. 34
Broadband Adoption and Awareness Project Summary of Grant
Investments .............................................................................................. 35
BAA – NTIA Grant: Apr. 2010 Progress Through Dec. 2012 ................... 35
Access to Careers in Technology .................................................................... 35
Access to Careers in Technology Project Summary of
Grant Investments .................................................................................... 36
ACT – NTIA Grant: Oct. 2010 Progress Through Dec. 2012.................... 37
Spotlight on Grantee Partners: Broadband Empowers People and
Transforms Lives ................................................................................................ 37
City of Firebaugh: Reaching the Unconnected in Rural California .................. 37
Latino Community Foundation: Finding Work for the Underemployed ............ 38
Mission Economic Development Agency: Helping Latinas Pursue Dreams .... 38
The ACME Network: Preparing Youth for Digital Careers ............................... 39
Chicana/Latina Foundation: Helping New Immigrants Thrive .......................... 39
Radio Bilingüe: Bringing Families Closer Together ......................................... 40
San Diego Futures Foundation: Connecting Urban Residents to Jobs ........... 40
YMCA Youth Institute: Providing a Path for Promising Students..................... 41
Lessons Learned from Grantmaking ................................................................... 41
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Lessons Learned by CETF in Grantmaking .................................................... 42
Lessons Learned by Grantee Partners in Achieving Adoptions ...................... 43
Focus and Accountability Drive Results .............................................................. 43
Augmenting Broadband and Digital Literacy Curriculum ................................. 44
Driving Sustainable Broadband Subscriptions ................................................ 44
Linking Broadband Adoption to Job Placements ............................................. 45
Providing Access to Affordable Computer Hardware ...................................... 45
Pursuing Sustainability .................................................................................... 45
Don and Rosemary Vial Awards for Digital Inclusion .......................................... 46
2012 Awardees ............................................................................................... 47
Sidebar: Nominee representatives for Outstanding Performance by an
Organization as they appear from left to right in a photograph................. 47
2012 Vial Awards Panel of Judges (not pictured)..................................... 47
Spotlight on Regional Consortia ......................................................................... 48
Mapped View of Aggregated Broadband Demand Regional Projects ............ 50
Spotlight on School2Home Partners: School2Home Transforms Education ....... 52
Los Angeles Unified School District................................................................. 52
Sidebar Quote from Jay McPhail, Director of Instructional Technology,
Riverside Unified School District .............................................................. 52
Riverside Unified School District ..................................................................... 52
Oakland Unified School District ....................................................................... 53
School2Home Is Supported by Educators and Families ..................................... 53
What Students Say.......................................................................................... 53
What Parents Say ........................................................................................... 54
What Teachers Say ......................................................................................... 54
What Principals Say ........................................................................................ 55
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School2Home Promotes Academic Improvement ........................................... 55
Leadership is Key to Progress: California Legislature Leaders Support
Broadband Deployment and Adoption ................................................................ 56
Quote From The Honorable Alex Padilla, 20th District Chairman, Senate
Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee ................................... 56
Quote From The Honorable Jean Fuller, 18th District Vice Chairman,
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee ....................... 57
Quote From The Honorable Steven Bradford, 62nd District Chairman,
Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee ......................................... 57
Quote From The Honorable Jim Patterson, 23rd District Vice Chairman,
Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee ......................................... 57
Quote From Carlos Ramos Secretary of California Technology............... 58
Quote From Kish Rajan Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and
Economic Development ........................................................................... 58
California Public Utilities Commission ................................................................. 59
California Broadband Council ............................................................................. 59
CETF Leverages Seed Capital: Summary of Financial Status ............................ 61
Summary of Financial Status Through Fiscal Year 2011-2012
(Cumulative to June 30, 2012) ................................................................. 61
Sidebar Quote from Rich Motta, CETF Treasurer .................................... 62
California Emerging Technology Fund Board of Directors ................................. 62
California Emerging Technology Fund Board of Expert Advisors ...................... 64
Opening Quote from Rachelle Chong ...................................................... 64
Closing Quote from Rachelle Chong ........................................................ 68
California Emerging Technology Fund Staff ....................................................... 69
Close the Digital Divide: Empower People and Transform Lives ........................ 70
Statement from Sunne Wright McPeak, President and CEO,
California Emerging Technology Fund ............................................................ 70
CETF Contact Information .................................................................................. 71
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California Emerging Technology Fund
Annual Report 2011–2012
Close the Digital Divide:
A Call to Action for Vision and Leadership
Statement from Michael R. Peevey, Chairman, California Emerging
Technology Fund; President, California Public Utilities Commission
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) was visionary and pioneering
in founding the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF). This action
established the institutional foundation and provided the critical mass of
resources to strategically and systematically focus leadership and forge publicprivate partnerships to close the Digital Divide in California. When the CPUC first
envisioned an organization such as CETF evolving from the mergers of SBCAT&T and Verizon-MCI, our state was far behind others in promoting broadband
deployment and adoption. Today, California has pulled ahead of the national
average for broadband adoption and is ranked among the top states in
addressing the challenges of the Digital Divide. This progress has been made
because we have the benefit of CETF as a catalyst and as a partner with the
State of California Administration and Legislature. This is a unique partnership
between government and a statewide non-profit organization that is missiondriven, outcomes-focused, and publicly-accountable for results. Yet, while we are
pleased with the progress that has been made and are deeply committed to
achieving our goal of ensuring broadband connectivity for all Californians, we
also have concluded that success will depend upon more aggressive public
policies and additional resources.
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Success in closing the Digital Divide in California will require the State
Administration and the Legislature to integrate broadband and information
technology into all solutions to address major issues—education, workforce
preparation, health care, and housing. It also will require legislation to amend and
extend the California Advanced Services Fund to achieve ubiquitous broadband
deployment into remote rural communities and to upgrade access in poor
disadvantaged neighborhoods. Breakthrough public policies are needed and the
California Broadband Council will be recommending immediate action for the
Administration and Legislature. Just as important, it will be critical for the federal
government to work in collaboration with our California initiatives to optimize
impact. We are grateful for the leadership of the California Congressional
Delegation in supporting and promoting our efforts. And, we look forward to
working in partnership with the Federal Communications Commission to
implement the National Broadband Plan.
We call upon all public officials and civic leaders to join us in the quest to close
the Digital Divide and leave no Californian behind or offline.
Broadband Empowers People and Transforms Lives
Statement from Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary for
Communications and Information Administrator, National
Telecommunications and Information Administration
Excerpt from 2013 Broadband Summit of the Federal–State Joint
Conference on Advanced Services, February 7, 2013, Federal
Communications Commission Washington, D.C.
“For those stuck on the wrong side of the Digital Divide, not having this basic
digital literacy can be a significant barrier to employment. Many job listings are
only posted online these days and many employers only accept job applications
online.
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Sheryl Culbert, a 49-year-old mother of two in Los Angeles, knows this first hand.
After being released from prison in 2010, Culbert was determined to turn her life
around. That meant finding a job. So she made her way to Chrysalis, a Los
Angeles non-profit that helps the city’s homeless and low-income residents find
work and get on a path to self-sufficiency.
Chrysalis enrolled Culbert in a Recovery Act-funded digital literacy program that
taught her how to go online and set up an email account. For Culbert, who had
lacked the confidence to use a computer, it was a major step. Chrysalis also
helped her land a job with the Skid Row Housing Trust, an organization that
operates housing for the homeless in Los Angeles. Today, Culbert manages her
own building for the Housing Trust. Her new job requires her to use a computer
practically every day—to update rents in the system database, to email county
housing officials, to make flyers for residents. She credits the training she
received at Chrysalis for her success.
Chrysalis is one of 19 programs across California that received part of the $14
million Recovery Act investment in the California Emerging Technology Fund, a
non-profit organization seeking to close the state’s Digital Divide. Through all of
its programs, CETF has helped over 2,600 people find jobs.”
Get Connected!
Closing the Digital Divide Is Imperative
for California
Imagine if you were not able to communicate instantaneously with others using
your smart phone, digital tablet, or computer. That is the case for more than 9
million Californians who live in remote rural communities, on tribal lands, in lowincome neighborhoods, or who have a disability. Those of us who have the
benefit of high-speed connections to the Internet—referred to as “broadband”—
have come to depend on this connectivity for our work, staying in touch with
family and friends, and making our daily lives easier.
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Broadband is essential 21st Century infrastructure for economic prosperity and
quality of life. It is a key factor in attracting capital investment to generate jobs.
Communities without broadband access to the Internet are in danger of being left
behind in the Digital Age— remote rural communities, poor urban neighborhoods,
and people with disabilities are even more disadvantaged without broadband—
an added challenge for California to retain global competitiveness. Closing the
Digital Divide with ubiquitous broadband deployment and public policies to
increase broadband adoption is imperative to the future of the Golden State.
New Public Policy and Additional Resources
Are Needed
Significant Progress Has Been Made with
Focused Leadership
The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) was established by the
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) with the mission to close the
Digital Divide in California. CETF has been a vital catalyst for focus, action and
results that has produced significant progress in the last 5 years. In 2008,
California’s statewide adoption rate for broadband use at home was 55%—the
same as the national average. Today, at 73% adoption statewide, California is 7
percentage points ahead of the nation (at 66%) with impressive gains among
priority populations:

Low-income households up 27 percentage points (from 33% in 2008 to 60%
in 2012).

Latino households up 24 percentage points (from 34% in 2008 to 58% in
2012), with a significant 11 percentage point increase for Spanish-speaking
residents in the last year (from 35% in 2011 to 46% in 2012).

People with disabilities up 20 percentage points (from 36% in 2008 to 56% in
2012).
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California is now rated among the best-performing states by independent,
credible sources. This progress has been made because of committed
leadership: Governor and State Agencies, Legislature, California Congressional
Delegation, CPUC, CETF, regional civic leaders, and a network of community
partners have joined forces to close the Digital Divide. However, although much
has been accomplished, a lot of work remains to reach the adopted goals for
broadband deployment and adoption. Based on the experience to date, CETF
concludes that success will require more effective Federal and State public
policies coupled with the dedication of additional resources.
Empower People and Transform Lives
California Earns Top Grades
As a result of purposeful leadership and focused work, California has emerged
among the best-ranked states earning top grades—a much different picture from
5 years ago. Government Technology Magazine 2012 Digital States Survey by
the Center for Digital Government gave California an A- grade (behind Michigan
and Utah).
TechNet ranked California among the top 5 states (behind Washington,
Massachusetts, Delaware, and Maryland) in the 2012 State Broadband Index
which analyzes how states look to high-speed connectivity to grow strong
economies and vibrant communities. That report was prepared by John B.
Horrigan, Ph.D., TechNet Senior Fellow, and Ellen Satterwhite, TechNet
Innovation Fellow.
TechNet also published in 2012 a study by Dr. Horrigan, now Vice President and
Director, Media and Technology Institute, Joint Center for Political and Economic
Studies, setting forth conclusions and recommendations about implementation of
the National Broadband Plan that align with the CETF approach and strategies to
effectively close the Digital Divide and the CETF “call to action” for new public
policies and additional resources.
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Trend Line for California and U.S. Broadband Adoption
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
55% California adoption
62% California adoption
70% California adoption
72% California adoption
73% California adoption
55% U.S. adoption
63% U.S. adoption
66% U.S. adoption
61% U.S. adoption
66% U.S. adoption
Note: The data source for the table above is PPIC–CETF– ZeroDivide Annual
Survey August 2012 for the California adoption percentages and PEW Internet
and American Life May 2012 for the U.S. adoption percentages.
Goals for Success: 98% Deployment and
80% Adoption
The mission of the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) is to provide
leadership statewide to close the Digital Divide by accelerating the deployment
and adoption of broadband and other advanced communications services to
underserved communities and populations. CETF also is dedicated to making
California a global leader in the deployment and adoption of broadband, which
includes both wireline and wireless technologies.
CETF is performance-driven and outcomes-focused. The CETF Strategic Action
Plan is based on research and fact finding about “what works” and sets forth the
overall approach and strategies to close the Digital Divide, including the metrics
for accountability that provide the disciplined focus on results. CETF has
identified 3 priority consumer communities for grantmaking: Rural and Remote
Areas; Urban Disadvantaged Neighborhoods; and People with Disabilities. CETF
has adopted the following goals and has projected a target date for achieving
success by 2017—10 years after CETF began operations.
Supply – Deployment

Access for At Least 98% of Households

Robust Rural-Urban California Telehealth Network (CTN)
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
All Tribal Lands Connected and Part of CTN
Demand – Adoption

Overall Statewide Adoption At Least 80% by 2015 and 90% by 2020

All Regions and Socioeconomic Groups within 10 Percentage Points of
Overall Adoption (At Least 70%)

Increased Overall Accessibility and Universal Design
California a Global Leader in Deployment and Adoption

Appropriate and Sufficient Speeds for Consumer Applications that
Drive Adoption

Increased Economic Productivity

Reduced Environmental Impacts
5 Overarching Strategies to Close the Digital Divide
To achieve the optimal impact and a higher return on investment of the original
$60 million seed capital, CETF uses 5 overarching strategies:

Civic Leader Engagement

Venture Philanthropy Grantmaking

Public Policy Initiatives

Public Awareness and Education

Strategic Partnerships
These strategies are inter-related and mutually reinforcing as outlined below:
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1. Civic Leader Engagement
Engage and mobilize a “critical mass” of regional and local leaders to sustain a
focus on closing the Digital Divide and to integrate Digital Inclusion into key
strategies to promote the regional economies and address local challenges.

Rural Regional Aggregation Demand Projects

Urban Regional Roundtables

13 Regional Consortia with Funding from California Advanced Services Fund
2. Venture Philanthropy Grantmaking
Establish and support a network of “trusted messengers” and “honest brokers” to
reach priority consumer groups in target communities.

$24.5M in Grants to More Than 70 Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)
and Public Agencies – Leveraged $95M in Matching Funds
 CETF 1.0: $21.9M to 57 CBOs
 CETF 2.0: $2.6M to Match $14.3 in 2 ARRA NTIA Grants for 19 CBOs
and Their Partners
 CETF 3.0: $5M Get Connected! Fund to Increase Broadband Adoption

Capacity Building and Learning Communities

Accountability for Performance and Results: Meeting and Exceeding
Outcome Goals
3. Public Policy Initiatives
Provide a positive public policy environment to optimize the impact of grants and
to accelerate broadband adoption.

Digital Literacy: Executive Order and Action Plan; Workforce Training Policy;
iCALIFORNIA
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
School2Home: Technology and Parent Engagement Integrated into Teaching
and Learning for Low-Performing Middle Schools as Centerpiece for
Neighborhood Transformation

California Telehealth Network: Medically-Underserved Rural and Urban
Communities Connected to Medical Centers for Access, Quality of Care and
Cost Savings

Smart Housing: State and Federal Policy to Connect All Publicly-Supported
Housing

Smart Communities: Smart Infrastructure Policy; Resource Guide for Local
and Regional Government Leaders; Libraries as Digital Literacy Hubs;
Broadband as a Green Strategy
4. Public Awareness and Education
Increase overall awareness among priority consumer communities about the
benefits of broadband as a foundation and support for all other strategic actions.

Get Connected! Public Awareness and Education Program
 GetConnectedToday.com Website (Online Basic Digital Literacy in
4 Languages)
 Community Connect Fairs
 Get Connected! Resolutions Adopted by Counties and Cities

Public Information Media Messages Based on Research

Club Digital (Launched by impreMedia La Opinión)
5. Strategic Partnerships
Forge collaboration and shared funding with governments, foundations and
employers to joint venture investments on major initiatives to sustain focus and
efforts to close the Digital Divide.
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5 Overarching Strategies to Close the Digital
Divide: Achieve 98% Deployment and
80% Adoption
1. Civic Leader Engagement
Engagement of civic leaders in stakeholder organizations is the first and foremost
strategy to leverage the $60 million seed capital. It is a powerful fulcrum to
optimize impact in all other strategies to close the Digital Divide in a state as
large and diverse as California. CETF initially convened civic leaders in rural
counties and funded the formation of Rural Regional Consortia to implement
Rural Regional Aggregation Demand Projects to identify needs, aggregate
demand, and map assets to encourage broadband deployment (visit CETF
website for Final Reports). CETF then convened civic leaders around Urban
Regional Roundtables to identify opportunities and outline action plans to
integrate broadband applications into initiatives to address local priority
challenges, such as economic development, education, workforce training, health
care and other public services (visit the CETF website for Summary Reports).
CETF also provided modest matching seed funding for the subsequent formation
of Urban Regional Consortia.
The existing 13 Regional Consortia evolved from these CETF investments and
are currently supported and funded by the California Advanced Services Fund
(CASF) administered by the CPUC. The Regional Consortia are responsible for
reaching out and engaging elected representatives, public officials, and leaders
from counties, cities, business, labor, and the community to involve them as
partners in developing and implementing regional action plans. In December
2011, CETF convened the first-ever statewide Civic Leaders Summit to address
the challenges of the Digital Divide and to prepare for implementation of the next
phase of CASF by the CPUC. CETF continues to facilitate networking and
collaboration among the Regional Consortia to share information and coordinate
activities. The Regional Consortia constitute a foundation of civic leadership that
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will sustain a focus on closing the Digital Divide and promoting Digital Inclusion
long into the future. (See pages xx–xx for a spotlight on the Regional Consortia.)
2. Venture Philanthropy Grantmaking
CETF regards grants as “investments” for which there must be measureable
returns and tangible results—referred to as “venture philanthropy” grantmaking.
Grantees are selected because of their capacity to deliver outcomes and their
credibility as “trusted messengers and honest brokers” for the priority consumer
communities. In addition to meeting their performance requirements for specific
deliverables and outcomes, grantees are engaged as partners in driving to the
statewide goals for closing the Digital Divide. CETF also facilitates collaboration
among grantees through “learning communities” to enhance their effectiveness
and expand their capacity. Since 2007 CETF has committed almost $25 million in
grants to more than 70 non-profit community-based organizations (CBOs) and
public agencies (see a list of all grantee partners and their performance
outcomes on pages xx–xx and visit the CETF website for Final Reports).
CETF also received 2 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grants
from the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) in 2010 totaling $14.3 million to increase
broadband adoption in California. The 2 grants supported the work of 19 CBOs.
The NTIA ARRA funding builds upon the initial round of CETF grantmaking and
the investment in development of the Get Connected! Public Awareness and
Education Program, allowing the federal government to better leverage their
funds for greater impact.
The first round of grantmaking is referred to as “CETF 1.0” because it coalesced
a critical mass of partner CBOs as a foundation for reaching a sufficient number
of Californians to close the Digital Divide. Leveraging CETF funds with the ARRA
NTIA grants is referred to as “CETF 2.0” because it builds on that foundation and
takes collaboration to the next level of impact. The current round of grantmaking
is referred to as “CETF 3.0” because it relies on the “lessons learned” from the
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first two phases and focuses integrated efforts on increasing broadband
adoptions in the poorest communities. It also is the last round of grantmaking
using the original CETF seed capital and is intended to forge Strategic
Partnerships that will promote neighborhood transformation as a platform for
future investment.
Sidebar Quote from Carol Whiteside, Partner, California Strategies, LLC
“CETF with partners throughout the state has made major progress toward
closing the Digital Divide, and it has been an important part of the California
comeback!”
3. Public Policy Initiatives
The pace at which the Digital Divide can be closed is significantly determined by
the policy environment in which grantmaking and other strategies are employed.
CETF has launched major policy initiatives to accelerate broadband adoption.
The following summarizes each major policy initiative and the milestone
accomplishments to date. In March 2011 CETF convened a Policymakers’
Roundtable in Sacramento which identified several policy and program
opportunities to accelerate broadband deployment and adoption by integrating
information technology into all strategies to address major challenges for
California (visit the CETF website for summary report which was widely
circulated to policymakers and formally submitted to the California Broadband
Council as a base document for future work). Today, the California Broadband
Council serves as the official forum for continued promotion and oversight of
public policies to accelerate broadband deployment and adoption.
Digital Literacy
Digital Literacy is defined as using digital technologies, communications tools,
and/or networks to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create and
communicate information in order to function in a knowledge society. CETF
convened experts and stakeholders to reach agreement on recommendations for
the State to adopt Digital Literacy as an official goal for California—thus helping
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drive the demand for broadband adoption. In 2009 the Governor signed an
Executive Order (a) establishing Digital Literacy as a goal for all students,
workers, and residents and (b) directing the development of an action plan to
coordinate the activities and integrate the resources of all state agencies to
achieve the goal.
Milestone accomplishments include:

The California Technology Agency (CTA) prepared the action plan Digital
Literacy Pathways in California in consultation with other State agencies and
stakeholders and is leading the implementation activities.

CETF funded the establishment of EmpowerNet California, a collaborative
among several grantees to develop a Tool Kit to assist workforce preparation
organizations in training “hard-to-employ” Californians for careers in
information technology. EmpowerNet is working with the California Workforce
Investment Board (CWIB), California Workforce Association, and local WIBs
to incorporate Digital Literacy into all major workforce training programs.
Leading WIBs have adopted resolutions of commitment to Digital Literacy:
Contra Costa County Workforce Development Board, Sacramento
Employment Training Agency, and NOVA in Silicon Valley. Policy is under
development at other key WIBs in San Diego, Alameda County,
and Richmond.

CETF funded LINK Americas Foundation, Inc. to assist CTA to launch the
iCALIFORNIA Digital Literacy Campaign and engage the State Librarian and
employers as partners.
School2Home
School2Home is an innovative statewide program that is tackling two of
California’s most critical and related challenges: closing both the Achievement
Gap and the Digital Divide. It was developed in collaboration with The Children’s
Partnership and reflects the consensus from a broad cross-section of education
and industry leaders in the design of the 10 Core Components. School2Home is
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a comprehensive framework for integrating the use of computing devices and
broadband technologies into teaching and learning at low-performing middle
schools, with an emphasis on school leadership, teacher professional
development, parental involvement, student tech experts, and affordable home
connectivity. It is rooted in sound research about “best practices” to improve
academic performance, providing the foundation to blend traditional and online
teaching methods that enable individualized learning. It also is a platform that
supports the transition to common core standards and allows a focus on
mastering core skills. By emphasizing the importance of learning both in the
classroom and at home, School2Home fosters stronger communications
between parents and teachers, which is a key to improving academic
performance. School2Home in the words of one educator “is changing the
paradigm of teaching and learning so that we are educating children for the 21st
Century, rather than the 1950s.” And, data show that students who have
computer and online navigation skills are twice as likely to attend college as
those who are not connected.
Milestone accomplishments include:

School2Home was launched in 2009 and beta tested in 2 schools. Today
School2Home is being implemented in 7 schools reaching more than 180
teachers and 5,000 students and their parents: Stevenson Middle School in
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) in collaboration with the
Partnership for Los Angeles Schools; Central and Chemawa Middle Schools
in Riverside Unified School District; San Fernando Institute for Applied Media
(SFIAM) in LAUSD in collaboration with Youth Policy Institute; Frick Middle
School and Melrose Leadership Academy in Oakland Unified School District;
and Muir Middle School in LAUSD in collaboration with LA’s Promise.

Independent evaluation of School2Home has been conducted showing great
promise for School2Home to be a scaled strategy for cost-effectively
improving education statewide. Students at Stevenson Middle School and
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SFIAM have shown gains in the Academic Performance Index (API) that
outpace the average increase within LAUSD.

Agreements have been signed to expand School2Home into 10 pivotal school
districts statewide pending matching funding. Superintendent of Public
Instruction Tom Torlakson has endorsed School2Home encouraging funders
to invest in the program.
(See pages xx–xx for a spotlight on School2Home partners.)
Telehealth –Telemedicine
Telehealth-Telemedicine is the ability to promote healthy behavior and provide
medical care remotely using broadband connectivity between facilities, thus
expanding access to vital services and improving the quality of care by linking
critical expertise to medically-underserved communities. It also has the potential
to help control costs. CETF was a key partner working with the University of
California (UC) and a consortium of State agencies, providers, and funders to
found the California Telehealth Network (CTN) with a robust vision of a statewide
system “at scale” and is providing $3.6 million to match a grant of $22.1 million
from the FCC to build the network by connecting more than 800 sites, including
300 Indian Health Services sites. CETF contributed pro bono administrative and
management support services to CTN for the first year of operation as an
independent non-profit in order to ensure success and stability in standing up a
new organization. CETF also funded: UC Merced to recruit and connect initial
telemedicine sites in the San Joaquin Valley (with the California Partnership for
the San Joaquin Valley and AT&T); and the California Dental Association and
Palo Alto Institute for Research and Education (in partnership with the
Department of Veterans Affairs) to coordinate services and resources with CTN.
Most recently, the FCC established a permanent program for telehealthtelemedicine which not only may provide future funding on a matched funding
basis, but also confirms the wisdom of California establishing the California
Telehealth Network.
20
Milestone accomplishments include:

CTN became operational as an independent non-profit organization in 2011
as a unique public-private partnership to make telehealth-telemedicine a
“signature component” of healthcare reform in California. CETF and
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. have contributed initial seed capital for CTN
operations, California HealthCare Foundation funded the development of a
Business Plan, and Blue Shield of California Foundation awarded a grant to
expand services.

UC received an NTIA grant to support CTN operations and 15 Model eHealth
Communities across the state. UnitedHealth is providing additional funding for
the Model eHealth Communities to develop best practices for telehealthtelemedicine.

CTN has been designated the California Regional Telehealth Resource
Center (CTRC) and secured a $1.2 million grant from U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA).
Smart Housing
Affordable Smart Housing is defined as a publicly-funded housing development
project that possesses an independent “advanced communications network” to
drive economies of scale that can result in a significantly-reduced cost basis for
residents. An advanced communications network is in addition to the standard
cables and infrastructure required for power, television and telephone. Feedback
from residents underscores the ability of Smart Housing through broadband
connectivity to transcend poverty and transform lives. As a result, the California
Broadband Council is making Smart Housing a policy priority.
Milestone accomplishments include:

CETF formulated a model policy for Smart Housing, briefed state and local
government policymakers, and conducted workshops with stakeholders.
21
CETF and the California Department of Housing and Community
Development jointly requested that the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development amend federal policies and regulations to support and
promote Smart Housing.

CETF has compiled and analyzed data to produce the first comprehensive
report on the options and costs for an advanced communications network so
that policymakers and affordable housing builders have reliable information to
pursue Smart Housing.

CETF is partnering with the Non-Profit Housing Association (NPH) of
Northern California and other affordable housing organizations to promote the
adoption of Smart Housing Policies at the federal, state, and local levels of
government. NPH and CETF also are preparing a Tool Kit to assist affordable
homebuilders with information and resources about broadband connectivity.
Smart Communities
The concept of “Smart Communities” refers to a policy commitment and focused
effort by local governments and civic leaders to optimize broadband deployment
as a community grows or redevelops, incorporating it into major public buildings,
transportation facilities, and other infrastructure projects. It also means optimizing
the use of broadband and other information technologies to deliver public
services and integrating it into solutions to major problems to increase efficiency
and enhance effectiveness. CETF is working with the State Librarian and other
library systems to promote libraries as “hubs for Digital Literacy” and wireless
“hot spots” throughout California. In addition, promoting the use of broadband is
a “green strategy” to reduce impacts on the environment and reduce the carbon
footprint.
Milestone accomplishments include:

CETF and Community Partners, California Community Technology Policy
Group, and the Broadband Institute of California (Santa Clara University
School of Law) published a summary and analysis of government-led wireless
22
projects titled “Wired for Wireless” which provides local governments and
stakeholders with critical information and a checklist to guide consideration of
wireless initiatives.

CETF and the Center for the New Orange County compiled examples of
existing local government policies regarding broadband and prepared a
Resource Guide for Local and Regional Government Leaders titled “Getting
Connected for Economic Prosperity and Quality of Life” which provides a
sample policy and check list for local leaders.

CETF and Valley Vision inventoried case studies of broadband deployment
and adoption as “green strategies” and published a Policy Brief for
policymakers and civic leaders.
4. Public Awareness and Education: Get Connected!
CETF launched Get Connected! to raise overall awareness about the benefits of
broadband as a foundation and support for all other strategic actions. The initial
2-year goal was to increase adoption among low-income and Latino households
statewide by 10 percentage points—and there was a 16 percentage point
increase. Get Connected! developed a website (GetConnectedToday.com) to
help non-users learn the basics about computers and broadband in several
languages, produced and aired public service announcements, and conducted
numerous Community Connect Fairs in target neighborhoods. Counties, cities,
and school districts throughout California adopted Get Connected! resolutions to
promote awareness. In addition, to support the work funded by NTIA, La Opinión
and parent company impreMedia launched “Club Digital” to reach a vast
Spanish-speaking population with print and online lessons. Get Connected!
provides a solid foundation of basic Digital Literacy information and a costefficient platform for CBOs and public agencies to reach new users to increase
broadband adoption.
23
5. Strategic Partnerships
In order to sufficiently leverage the CETF seed capital to close the Digital Divide
by 2017, it is essential for CETF to forge Strategic Partnerships with government,
foundations and employers to joint venture on major projects to expand initiatives
such as the California Telehealth Network, School2Home, Smart Housing, and
Get Connected! Given that CETF “front-loaded” grantmaking to engage as soon
as possible a “critical mass” of CBO partners in target communities, only $10
million in original seed capital remains, of which half ($5 million) is dedicated to
expanding School2Home statewide with a goal of CETF contributing 20% and
other partners contributing 80%. The last $5 million has been dedicated to the
CETF Get Connected! Fund (to be leveraged 5-fold) to increase broadband
adoptions through Strategic Partnerships. This last phase of open, competitive
grantmaking is referred to as “CETF 3.0” to take to scale “lessons learned” about
“what works” for increasing broadband adoption. CETF is seeking Strategic
Partnerships for integrated “breakthrough strategies” to close the Digital Divide
that will concurrently improve California’s economic competitiveness and quality
of life for all residents.
Global Broadband Penetration as of December 2011 Measured by
Subscribers per 100 Inhabitants and GDP per Capita (USD PPP, 2011)
Netherlands
Korea
Germany
Sweden
U.S.
Japan
39.1 subscribers per 100 inhabitants
35.4 subscribers per 100 inhabitants
33.3 subscribers per 100 inhabitants
32.5 subscribers per 100 inhabitants
27.7 subscribers per 100 inhabitants
27.4 subscribers per 100 inhabitants
42,847 GDP per capita
30,254 GDP per capita
41,348 GDP per capita
39,187 GDP per capita
46,588 GDP per capita
33,785 GDP per capita
Note: The data source for the table above is Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) – Dec. 2011
Sidebar Quote from Dr. Barbara O’Connor, CETF Secretary
“CETF focuses on outcomes and gets results. Funders who become Strategic
Partners realize a huge return on their investments—not the least of which is to
empower people and transform lives.”
24
California Advanced Services Fund Is Key
Resource for Deployment
The goal for broadband deployment is to achieve access to 98% of all
households by 2017. Based on mapping by the Governor’s Broadband Task
Force in 2007 and more recent work by the CPUC, it is estimated conservatively
that there was about 94% deployment when CETF began and that approximately
512,000 households (that existed and were unserved in 2007) in rural and
remote communities will need to get high-speed Internet access to reach the
98% deployment goal.
With authorization from the Legislature and Governor, the CPUC established the
California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) to support broadband infrastructure
deployment to unserved and underserved communities in rural and remote areas
of the state. CASF was initially capitalized with $100 million which also provided
an important source of matching funds for federal broadband grants available
through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). CASF was
extended and expanded in 2010 with another $125 million through the enactment
of legislation by Senator Alex Padilla, which designates $100 million for
broadband infrastructure subsidies, $15 million for a revolving loan fund to help
finance projects, and $10 million to support Regional Consortia to assist the
CPUC reach the 98% deployment goal.
To date, CASF and ARRA have provided funding for broadband access to
approximately 287,000 households, leaving at least 225,000 households still to
be reached with “last-mile” infrastructure. There also is a significant need for
improved “middle-mile” broadband infrastructure that will support and enable
“last-mile” projects. In addition, broadband to tribal lands for Native Americans
that want to be connected must be a priority policy objective. Further, it should be
recognized that broadband infrastructure in poorer urban neighborhoods is often
inferior to the quality and speeds in surrounding communities. In particular,
ensuring broadband connectivity to all publicly-subsidized multi-unit housing
25
complexes is a strategy that should be pursued aggressively to reach the most
disadvantaged Californians. These facts present a compelling case for the
Legislature and Governor to amend, extend and augment the California
Advanced Service Fund as the key resource to achieve the 98% broadband
deployment goal.
Progress Continues on Broadband Adoption
The goal for broadband adoption is to achieve 80% statewide of households
using high-speed Internet access at home by 2015, with no demographic group
or region below 70%. As shown on these graphs, significant progress has been
made in narrowing the Digital Divide as evidenced by the changes between 2008
and 2012 in the statewide survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of
California (PPIC) that is co-sponsored by the California Emerging Technology
Fund and ZeroDivide. Since 2008, statewide use of broadband at home has
increased from 55%, which was the same as the national average, to 73%, now
7 percentage points ahead of the nation. Even more encouraging are increases
among disadvantaged populations because of focused strategic actions: lowincome households ($40,000 or less annually) are up 27 percentage points (from
33% to 60%), Latino families are up 24 percentage points (from 34% to 58%),
and people with disabilities are up 20 percentage points (from 36% to 56%). Yet,
these populations still lag behind higher-income households ($80,000 or more
annually) at 93%. And, while there also have been steady increases in adoption
in every region, with Los Angeles having the lowest adoption rate in 2008 at 48%
being now at 69%, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire at 71% and Central Valley at
71% lag behind the Bay Area at 78% and San Diego-Orange at 78%.Thus, a
substantial challenge remains: approximately another 880,000 households will
have to subscribe to broadband to achieve the 80% adoption goal. This target
will be reached only by public officials enacting new public policies and
dedicating additional resources.
26
California Broadband Adoption Percentage by Population Served
Low-Income
Households
Latino Households
People with
Disabilities
Rural Households
California Overall
33% in
2008
34% in
2008
36% in
2008
51% in
2008
55% in
2008
40% in
2009
39% in
2009
47% in
2009
59% in
2009
62% in
2009
49% in
2010
50% in
2010
55% in
2010
69% in
2010
70% in
2010
58% in
2011
55% in
2011
49% in
2011
no data
2011
72% in
2011
60% in
2012
58% in
2012
56% in
2012
no data
2012
73% in
2012
68% in
2011
78% in
2011
70% in
2011
76% in
2011
66% in
2011
72% in
2011
69% in
2012
78% in
2012
71% in
2012
78% in
2012
71% in
2012
73% in
2012
California Broadband Adoption Percentage by Region
Los Angeles
Bay Area
Central Valley
Orange –
San Diego
Inland Empire
California Overall
48% in
2008
65% in
2008
53% in
2008
58% in
2008
56% in
2008
55% in
2008
58% in
2009
73% in
2009
51% in
2009
70% in
2009
60% in
2009
62% in
2009
67% in
2010
79% in
2010
64% in
2010
75% in
2010
71% in
2010
70% in
2010
Sidebar Quote from Ken McNeely, President, AT&T California
“Each time a Californian clicks on the Internet for the first time, a brick is laid in
the bridge that spans a narrowing Digital Divide. Thanks to the tireless work of
CETF, the pace of innovation and affordable Internet-accessible devices, more
Californians than ever before are connecting to both their local and global
communities.”
Sidebar Quote from Tim McCallion, West Region President, Verizon
“As a global technology leader, Verizon is bringing our transformational technology
and innovation to solve society’s biggest challenges. Working with our community
partners, Verizon has focused on using the power of its networks to increase
27
access to care, enhance education, and create a cleaner and more sustainable
world. The California Emerging Technology Fund’s work to bridge the Digital Divide
is a key part of Verizon’s vision of a connected and borderless world.”
Partners Contribute to Progress
The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) has awarded more than $25
million in grants to community-based organizations and public agencies who are
regarded as “partners” in achieving the broadband deployment and adoption
goals. CETF also received $14.3 million in 2 federal grants from the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to support 19 subawardees. The following is an alphabetical listing of all grantee partners along
with the amount of the grant. Please visit the CETF website for additional
information about each grantee, a grouping of grantees by impact focus
summarizing the individual grantee deliverables and outcomes, and their Final
Reports.
California Emerging Technology Fund
Summary of Grant Investments
Grantee Partner
Project Name
Amount
21st Century Communities
Casa Familiar, CD Tech,
Los Angeles Housing
Partnership, Inc., Mission
Economic Development
Corporation, New
Economics for Women,
Self-Help Enterprises
211-LA
Alliance for Technology
Access
Amador-Tuolumne
Community Resources, Inc.
California Dental Association
Foundation
Special Projects
$60,000
Get Connected! Hot Line
Loan Program Feasibility
$100,000
$10,000
Gold Country Connect
$250,000
Teledentistry for CTN
$25,000
28
California Resources and
Training
California Black Chamber
of Commerce Foundation,
California Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce
Foundation, Asian
Business Center
California State University
(CSU) Foundation
California State University
East Bay
California Telehealth
Network
California Telehealth
Network
Center for a New Orange
County
Center for Accessible
Technology
Centro Latino for Literacy
Chico State University
Foundation
Chico State University
Foundation
City of Firebaugh*
Community Christian
College
Community Development
Technologies Center
Community Foundation for
Monterey County
Community Partners,
California Community
Technology Policy Group,
BroadBand Institute of
California
Computers for Youth
Connected Nation
Small Business Consortium for
Emerging Markets
$287,000
Accessible Technology Initiative
$750,000
School2Home Peer Review
California Telehealth Network
(CTN)
CTN Seed Capital
Direct Payments
Sample Broadband Policies for
Local Governments
Digital Inclusion Challenge
$20,000
$3,355,837
$700,000
$300,000
$50,000
$455,000
Los Angeles Countywide
Spanish Literacy Campaign
Northeastern California Connect
$250,000
Upstate California Connect
$250,000
Firebaugh Community
Technology Collaborative
My Blueprint for Life
$633,000
TechReady
$750,000
Central Coast Tri-County
Broadband Consortium
Wireless Comparative Analysis
and Education Project
Take IT Home Project
Technical Assistance for Rural
Demand Aggregation
29
$300,000
$153,000
$5,000
$250,000
$666,000
$50,000
Contra Costs Economic
Partnership
Desert Mountain Resource
Conservation and
Development Council
El Concilio of San Mateo
County
EmpowerNet California
* Partners
FirstMile.US
Goodwill Industries of San
Francisco, San Mateo and
Marin Counties*
Humboldt State Foundation
iFoster
Latino Community
Foundation
LINK Americas Foundation
Little Tokyo Service Center
Community Development
Corporation
Mission Language and
Vocational School (MLVS)*
Non-Profit Housing
Association of
Northern California
Oakland Technology
Exchange West
Fiscal Agent – Marcus
Foster Institute
OCCUR*
One Economy Corporation
Palo Alto Institute for
Research and Education
Public Policy Institute of
California
San Bernardino Economic
Development Agency
East Bay Regional Broadband
Strategy Project
Eastern Sierra Connect
$110,000
WiFi 101
$750,000
EmpowerNet California
$250,000
Get Connected!
ReCompute
$10,000
$600,000
Redwood Coast Connect
Get Connected! and Leadership
Engagement Project
Community Consortium for
Emerging Markets
California Digital Literacy
Initiative
Neighborhood Unplugged
$250,000
$300,000
MLVS Technology Center
$150,000
Smart Housing Policy
$100,000
Digital Inclusion Oakland
$300,000
East Bay Community
Technology Catalyst
Bring IT Home California
VA Health Kiosks for CTN
$600,000
Annual Statewide Survey:
Californians and Information
Technology
Inland Empire Regional
Consortium
30
$5,000
$25,000
$100,000
$250,000
$1,400,000
$25,000
$290,000
$5,000
San Diego Futures
Foundation
Sierra Economic
Development Corporation
Southeast Cities
Development Corporation
Stride Center*
San Diego Broadband Initiative
$450,000
Central Sierra Connect
$250,000
Southeast Cities Technology
Collaborative
Launching Communities Across
California
Refurbished Computer Initiative
Arts and Animation Project
$486,000
The Children’s Partnership
Fiscal Agent – Tides Center
School2Home
$415,000
$369,300
The Salvation Army
University of California,
Merced
University of California
Office of the President,
UC Davis (UC)
Valley Vision
Get Connected! Pico Union
San Joaquin Valley eHealth
Regional Visioning Project
California Telehealth Network
(CTN)
$100,000
$200,000
Sacramento Metro Broadband
Collaborative
Beyond My Space
Get Families Connected
$5,000
$140,000
$20,000
The A-Team
$380,000
Youth Institute
$869,500
Neighborhood Technology
Learning Continuum
$550,200
Tech Soup
The ACME Network
Venice Arts
West Contra Costa Unified
School District
World Institute on Disability
Alliance for Technology
Access, Center for
Accessible Technology
and World Institute on
Disability
YMCA Greater Long Beach
YMCA of Greater Long
Beach, YMCA of
Metropolitan Los Angeles,
THINK Together,
Anaheim Family YMCA,
YMCA of the Central Bay
Area, YMCA of Cambria
YMCA Greater Long Beach
31
Development
Implementation
$620,000
$500,000
$680,000
$244,163
YMCA of the East Bay
Building Blocks for Kids
Youth Policy Institute
Family Inclusion Project
$520,000
Valley Family Technology
Project
$292,000
Acknowledgements
In addition to these grantee partners, CETF has been assisted during the last
year by the following contractors: SAESHE developed and placed public
awareness advertising for the Get Connected! Public Awareness and Education
Program and ACT; Valley Vision with the assistance of Applied Development
Economics consultant Trish Kelly inventoried best practices for broadband as a
“green strategy” and prepared a Policy Brief; Stride Center and EmpowerNet
California promoted the integration of Digital Literacy into workforce preparation;
California Community Builders worked on the feasibility of integrating
telemedicine into “smart housing” in Firebaugh; Maile Communications
documented the work and accomplishments of CETF grantees; Camicia &
Company, LLC is helping provide information to policymakers; Glen Price Group
facilitated the Learning Communities with NTIA grantees; Sustainable Systems,
Inc. and Carl Anthony are assisting in advancing Digital Inclusion as a facet of
integrated human services and socially-responsible investing to transform
disadvantaged neighborhoods; and Families in Schools continues as a key
partner in implementing School2Home.
Grantees Meet and Exceed Performance Goals
Grants awarded by CETF are subject to performance by grantee partners to
achieve specific deliverables and outcomes set forth in Grant Agreements. CETF
monitors progress through Quarterly Reports, Annual Reviews (on site), Annual
Workshop, Learning Communities, and Final Reports. The approach used by
CETF as an “investment partner” to engage, inform, monitor, assist, and correct
course when needed has been a critical factor in getting to success. The Grantee
32
Performance Charts show progress to date for all grantees in broad categories of
outcomes.
Performance Charts
ACT and BAA – NTIA Grant
Total Media Impressions
$1,000,000 NTIA and CETF Investments
ACT Oct. 2010 through
Goal
Dec. 2012
69 million impressions
BAA Apr. 2010 through
Dec. 2012
Goal
80 million impressions
Actual
107 million impressions
(155%)
Actual
225 million impressions
(281%)
California Emerging Technology Fund Grants
2008 Progress Through December 2012
CETF Grantee Performance is updated as grants are completed. See the CETF
website for Final Reports on accomplishments and outcomes for individual grants.
Household Adoption
Goal
Actual
42,853 outcomes 36,298 outcomes (85%)
TOTAL PEOPLE TRAINED
Goal
Actual
82,957 outcomes 91,091 outcomes (110%)
Youth* Trained Digital Literacy Goal
Actual
38,315 outcomes 43,595 outcomes (114%)
Adults* Trained Digital Literacy Goal
Actual
32,783 outcomes 36,524 outcomes (111%)
People* Trained for Workforce Goal
Actual
4,659 outcomes
7,328 outcomes (146%)
Small Businesses* Trained
Goal
Actual
7,200 outcomes
3,644 outcomes (51%)
Computers Refurbished to
Goal
Actual
Assist Affordability
26,233 outcomes 32,207 outcomes (123%)
*Included in TOTAL TRAINED
33
CETF Investments Attract ARRA NTIA Grants
Broadband Awareness and Adoption
The Broadband Awareness and Adoption (BAA) project mobilized the expertise
and resources of 8 partner organizations to reach communities most impacted by
the Digital Divide: low-income families, limited English-speaking Latinos, rural
residents and people with disabilities. BAA partners worked with schools,
churches, health clinics, job-training programs and social service providers to
develop model “service ecosystems” which included technical support, low-price
computers and affordable broadband connections. BAA has been recognized
nationally for the innovative combination of media, online applications and
grassroots mobilization to make significant strides to accelerate Digital Literacy
and broadband adoption among the target populations. BAA exceeded all grant
goals for targeted outreach, training and household broadband adoption in two
years.
Key accomplishments as of December 2012 include:

Increased awareness about benefits of broadband among 13,296,068 lowincome residents.

Provided 719,255 Californians with basic Digital Literacy skills to use
broadband technology.

Achieved 198,743 new broadband subscriptions by low-income households
and distributed 6,866 computers to low-income households (172% goal).
Total BAA Budget
NTIA Grant
CETF Match Funds
Partner Cash Match
Partner In-Kind Match
$9,360,672
$7,251,295
$979,476
$882,667
$247,234
34
Broadband Adoption and Awareness Project
Summary of Grant Investments
Grantee Partner
2-1-1 California / United Ways of California
Access Now
Center for Accessible Technology
Chicana/Latina Foundation
Dewey Square Group
Latino Community Foundation
Radio Bilingüe
Social Interest Solutions
Amount
$1,810,000
$77,800
$593,955
$602,348
$1,360,000
$850,000
$900,000
$1,699,999
BAA – NTIA Grant
Apr. 2010 Progress Through Dec. 2012
BAA Project is scheduled to conclude March 2013.
Household Adoption
Goal
133,000
outcomes
TOTAL PEOPLE TRAINED
Goal
678,000
outcomes
Youth* Trained Digital Literacy Goal
45,000 outcomes
Adults* Trained Digital Literacy Goal
633,000
outcomes
Referrals (One-e-App, 2-1-1)
Goal
175,000
outcomes
*Included in TOTAL PEOPLE TRAINED
Actual
198,743 outcomes
(149%)
Actual
719,255 outcomes
(106%)
Actual
46,530 outcomes (103%)
Actual
672,725 outcomes
(106%)
Actual
282,655 outcomes
(162%)
Access to Careers in Technology
The Access to Careers in Technology (ACT) project began in October 2010 and
will be completed by June 2013. The project has established scalable workforce
development programs based on successful models while expanding access to
35
broadband and 21st Century jobs in low-income communities throughout the
state. Youth, adults, and small business owners are learning essential computer
skills, getting connected with broadband, and using Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) training to advance employment in a
spectrum of major industries from engineering to entertainment. ACT provides
individuals—ranging from the homeless to former drug addicts who have multiple
barriers to employment—with the building blocks for a career, giving people
access not just to a job, but to a field of work that is in high demand.
Key accomplishments as of December 2012 include:

Trained 19,687 low-income youth and adults and 9,413 small business
owners and employees with Digital Literacy skills.

Trained 4,071 low-income residents and secured 2,659 ICT career-path jobs
for low-income residents (104% goal).

Achieved 8,194 new subscriptions by low-income households and distributed
5,547 computers to low-income households (222% goal).
Total ACT Budget
NTIA Grant
CETF Match Funds
Partner Cash Match
Partner In-Kind Match
$11,081,130
$7,108,181
$1,572,320
$2,379,839
$20,790
Access to Careers in Technology Project
Summary of Grant Investments
Grantee Partner
California Resources and Training
Caminos Pathways
Chrysalis
EmpowerNet California
Goodwill Industries of San Francisco,
San Mateo, and Marin Counties
Amount
$770,000
$292,341
$335,306
$360,000
$476,000
36
Mission Economic Development Agency
OCCUR
San Diego Futures Foundation
Southeast Community
Development Corporation
Stride Center
The ACME Network
Youth Radio
$122,659
$150,000
$1,945,000
$389,953
$1,219,900
$1,150,000
$147,983
ACT – NTIA Grant
Oct. 2010 Progress Through Dec. 2012
ACT Project is scheduled to conclude June 2013.
Household Adoption
Goal
9,237 outcomes
TOTAL PEOPLE TRAINED
Goal
36,295 outcomes
Youth* Trained Digitial Literacy Goal
8,150 outcomes
Adults* Trained Digitial Literacy Goal
10,815 outcomes
People* Trained for Workforce Goal
3,005 outcomes
Small Businesses* Trained
Goal
15,000 outcomes
*Included in TOTAL PEOPLE TRAINED
Actual
8,194 outcomes (89%)
Actual
29,671 outcomes (90%)
Actual
9,336 outcomes (115%)
Actual
10,351 outcomes (96%)
Actual
4,071 outcomes (132%)
Actual
9,413 outcomes (63%)
Spotlight on Grantee Partners
Broadband Empowers People and Transforms Lives
City of Firebaugh: Reaching the Unconnected in Rural California
Two years ago, Maria Franco was diagnosed with diabetes. At first disheartened
at the news, she soon figured out she could be her own best health advocate.
Living on the outskirts of Firebaugh in the Central Valley, however, she does not
37
have access to broadband at home. But through a grant from California
Emerging Technology Fund to the city of Firebaugh, Maria and hundreds of local
residents can go to town to get online and take digital literacy training through a
partnership with Los Promotores, which promotes health and welfare initiatives. “I
had never before in my life used the Internet,” Maria said. Now, through online
searches she says she has been able to find and learn about holistic medicines
to treat diabetes. “Broadband and computer literacy have opened up a world of
information,” she said, and a new avenue for her eagerness to give back to her
community. “I am now more involved in helping others,” she said.
Latino Community Foundation: Finding Work for the
Underemployed
Alicia Lopez had never heard of Craigslist when she arrived for computer training
at Canal Alliance in Marin. A struggling single mom, she urgently needed to find
more work than cleaning two houses. The Latino Community Foundation works
through 8 Bay Area partner organizations, including Canal Alliance, to
incorporate computer training and broadband education in their community
engagement programs. After first learning to navigate a computer keyboard and
use a mouse, the next assignment for Alicia was to get an email address. Call it
beginner’s luck, but as soon as Alicia got her email, she sent in an online
application and landed a part-time job as a restaurant host. Raising two children
on her own, she still needed to earn more. She dedicated her free time to
continue looking, and when she found a great opportunity, she applied for it.
Instead of cleaning houses, Alicia now works at a rehabilitation facility—as
housekeeping supervisor.
Mission Economic Development Agency: Helping Latinas
Pursue Dreams
When Rosa Artero signed up for computer training classes, she initially had her
children in mind. “My dream is to be an example to my daughters so they can
see that I am trying very hard to become a successful Latina,” Rosa said. She
38
studied hard nights and weekends to obtain two computer certifications through
the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA). At work, her employer has
begun showing her more respect for investing the time and energy to gain the
training. She’s ready for more advanced classes and the family recently received
a free computer through MEDA and subscribed to broadband at home. “My
husband will be able to use the computer for his job; my kids can use it for
homework,” Rosa said. But that’s not all. Rosa now is inspired to do something
for herself: She is planning to earn a high school equivalency diploma and will
study online.
The ACME Network: Preparing Youth for Digital Careers
“I am finally going to be paid to animate!” That’s how Henri Brownell shared the
good news in an email to his supporters at The ACME Network. Henri learned
digital animation skills from top Hollywood studio professionals who volunteer
their time to engage youth at low-performing Los Angeles schools by providing
work-related, experiential learning and one-on-one mentoring. ACME teaches
more than digital arts, it “helps prepare its members socially, creatively and
mentally,” said Chad Helmuth, a training executive with Sony Pictures’
Imageworks. For Henri, ACME provided key mentoring that allowed him to
develop as an artist “a lot sooner” than he thought possible. Then, he served as
one of ACME’s premiere student peer mentors helping other youth gain
experience and confidence to pursue animation careers. “ACME helped me
shape my career goals,” Henri wrote. “I’ll be working with creatures for now, but
any way you cut it, it’s a great first step toward my animation career! I’m so
excited!”
Chicana/Latina Foundation: Helping New Immigrants Thrive
Jenny Marin is a busy mom and a full-time student. Still, when she heard about
the opportunity as a Chicana/Latina Foundation scholarship winner to help bring
computers and broadband to underserved Latino communities, she made the
extra time. She organized events and classes around the Bay Area to give
39
hands-on demonstrations to families about how computer access at home opens
doors to educational and employment opportunities. Jenny alone signed up
nearly 200 families, or nearly 1,000 people, for broadband, using her personal
story as an immigrant to help them grasp the benefits of broadband. With the
help of a computer, she was able to gain the knowledge after arriving from Peru
to develop as a parent, a college student and a career woman. Going online also
has helped her stay in touch with her family from Peru, giving her emotional
support when she needs it most. Jenny said, “I know that without education and
information no dream can be reached.”
Radio Bilingüe: Bringing Families Closer Together
In Iris Oseguera’s home, computer time often is family time. The Los Banos
family signed up for broadband after listening to a Radio Bilingüe story about the
benefits of having a computer and Internet connection right at her fingertips at
home. Today, she can’t imagine her life without it. Radio Bilingüe reaches out to
rural and urban Latino communities through its informational radio network. With
high-speed Internet, Iris communicates with her children’s teachers about their
progress in school. Her children often receive homework assignments on the
computer, and they like to play online math and English games. Most importantly
for Iris, Internet phone service allows her growing family to stay in touch with her
mother who lives in Tijuana. “My kids and I can see and talk to my mom, even
though she is far away. The Internet is now a big part of our family,” she said.
San Diego Futures Foundation: Connecting Urban Residents
to Jobs
Saad Shamoon is passionate about his work, and it shows. After earning his
computer certification at San Diego Futures Foundation, he gained employment
at the foundation’s Tech Support Call Center, which provides technical support
for thousands of low-income San Diego residents. He serves as a Help Desk
Support Technician and Basic Computer Instructor’s Assistant, providing
services in English and Arabic. San Diego Futures Foundation, in collaboration
40
with Able Disabled Advocacy, sponsors TechWORKS, a program that trains
urban residents for careers in technology and operates a community-based
computer help center. When it comes to job placement, graduates are
encouraged to help others gain technology proficiency. “I am learning something
new every day. I am learning from coworkers and customers and, as a result, I
am developing myself on a daily basis,” Saad said, “When you work with
something you love, you will enjoy it, and give more.”
YMCA Youth Institute: Providing a Path for Promising Students
A laptop in the right hands can change a life. Meet Nick Diamantides. Since
middle school Nick has been part of the YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth
Institute (YI), an after-school program that engages youth with technology and
provides pathways to higher education. Nick learned digital arts skills while
producing films and music, even 3-D animation. And he shined as a mentor. But
he never had a computer at home, until he won an Apple laptop in a YI raffle. He
used it to apply to college, and was accepted as a music major at the University
of California, Santa Barbara, where he holds a 3.8 GPA. “The training and laptop
that I have received have changed my life,” Nick said. “My laptop is a critical tool
to record, work on pitch, write papers. I am very thankful to CETF and the YMCA
for understanding that training and Internet connectivity for all is a fight worth
fighting.”
Lessons Learned from Grantmaking
California Emerging Technology Fund holds itself accountable to promote policy,
advance strategies and implement actions that will result in closing the Digital
Divide in California within a decade by achieving 98% deployment and 80%
adoption. While many partners and organizations contribute to the efforts and are
responsible for the success, CETF accepts the responsibility to sustain sufficient
FOCUS, be the catalyst for the requisite ACTION, and produce the intended
RESULTS. That is at the core of the mission assigned to CETF by the CPUC.
41
The progress for deployment is tracked by the CPUC and CETF. The progress
for adoption is tracked through an annual statewide survey conducted by the
independent Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). Grantees are engaged
as partners to drive toward these overall outcomes as well as achieve specific
deliverables and outcomes set forth in Grant Agreements. Thus, grantee
performance is one of the “inputs” to the overall “outcomes” for success. Grantee
performance is continuously evaluated in order to make course corrections as
necessary. And, results are tracked individually and cumulatively for all grantees.
CETF has partnered with more than 70 grantees and has worked with
government agencies, providers, and community organizations on the local, state
and national level. The following summarizes Lessons Learned to date from
regular evaluations of grantmaking with both CETF seed capital and the NTIA
grants. CETF grantmaking focus and requirements going forward reflect these
Lessons Learned.
Lessons Learned by CETF in Grantmaking

Focus on results identified in a clear action plan and accountability for
achieving those results, based on individual grantee performance and overall
success in closing the Digital Divide.

Develop grantee executive leadership and staff management capacity to
achieve successful outcomes that enhance potential for organizational
sustainability.

Promote collaboration with other complementary organizations to enhance
and leverage resources and effectiveness of each partner.

Leverage funds to enhance the success of a project and prospects for
sustainability.

Incorporate Digital Literacy training and affordable computing devices and
broadband subscription offers with public awareness about broadband
benefits to optimize adoption.
42
Lessons Learned by Grantee Partners in Achieving Adoptions

Augment broadband availability and Digital Literacy curriculum with additional
services to achieve and sustain adoptions among hard-to-reach populations.

Drive sustainable adoption and broadband subscription with a full spectrum of
services and additional incentives.

Link commitment to job placements with Digital Literacy training and
workforce preparation.

Provide access to affordable computer hardware and ongoing technical
assistance.

Pursue sustainability by integrating Digital Literacy, broadband adoption and
information technology strategies into all projects to align with priorities of
specific funders.
Focus and Accountability Drive Results
Californians without broadband at home can be described as distinct groups
based on likelihood to subscribe to broadband, ranging from “broadband
hopefuls” (who are very likely to subscribe) to “digitally distant” (who will require
very significant amounts of information and training before subscribing). Thus, a
cost-effective approach to driving broadband adoption is first to identify and
pursue “broadband hopefuls” through strategic partnerships and targeted
outreach working with libraries, schools, and CBOs. Part of any program should
include helping clients become smarter shoppers because one-time and ongoing
costs are barriers to adoption. It’s imperative to make participants aware that
they have a range of options from which to access affordable computers and
broadband, and show them how to apply. The following elaborates on the
Lessons Learned from the experience of grantee partners.
43
Augmenting Broadband and Digital Literacy Curriculum
Consumer education is key to success. When low-income nonsubscribers are
asked why they do not have broadband at home, often they cite “fear of the
unknown” and “lack of time.” But they also say they have an appetite to learn
about technology. It’s essential to survey participants in advance to properly
understand their education and training needs. Successful programs: provide a
full-range of support services at one location, including hands-on computer
training and education about costs of broadband and computers; integrate the
benefits of broadband into everyday activities; and show participants how going
online can result in saving money, better health, improved performance in school
and a path to a better job. Trusted community messengers and communitybased organizations (CBOs) are the most effective at outreach, training and
helping people get access to computers and broadband if those community
groups have access to appropriate curriculum and technology resources. It is
important to offer information and instruction “in language and in culture”
comfortable for participants and at locations where they interact with the
community—schools, libraries, health facilities, churches, and other service
centers.
Driving Sustainable Broadband Subscriptions
Broadband adoption is a “high-touch process” to move individuals from training to
a completed broadband subscription. New subscribers often need one-on-one
support going through the application process and help understanding the bill
when it arrives in the mail. Some partners offered participants a free computer
upon completion of a training program and/or subscription to broadband and
found that initial and ongoing technical assistance to resolve technology
problems is pivotal to optimize adoption. Additional incentives (such as a cash
prize, raffle to win a computer, gift cards, or discounts on computer hardware or
software), particularly targeting youth to reach extended family and friends, can
further boost interest and encourage adoption. Experience also shows that
44
following up on clients to confirm continuing subscription requires planned and
funded effort, but is a vital facet of driving broadband adoption.
Linking Broadband Adoption to Job Placements
Highlighting the benefit of broadband to seek and secure a better job can be a
motivating factor. It is important is to link Digital Literacy training to job
opportunities and to integrate Information and Computer Technology (ICT) skills
into workforce preparation, but the training needs to go beyond computer skills.
In a tough job market, it is necessary to get access to business referral networks
and build relationships with employers to help ease the transition of participants
into the workforce. Often it can be effective to develop additional life skills and
on-the-job training through internships and volunteerism. By reinforcing the value
of networking between participants and alumni coupled with training, both will
gain skills that will last a career.
Providing Access to Affordable Computer Hardware
In regions that lack local computer refurbishers, partners should either develop
relationships with organizations that ship refurbished computers statewide or
purchase refurbished computers in bulk elsewhere in the state to resell to clients.
Partners should negotiate a lower price and get quotes from more than one
vendor. In addition, a close working relationship is needed between providers
providing affordable broadband and CBOs who are trusted by the target
populations.
Pursuing Sustainability
With limited funding available for Digital Literacy training and broadband
adoption, partners should integrate these activities and programs into programs
and/or partnerships that specialize in delivery of services. A growing number of
services (notably healthcare, workforce development, and financial services)
require clients or participants to have Internet connectivity and computer skills
45
knowledge. Partners can expand their funding opportunities by presenting Digital
Literacy and broadband adoption as supportive components of projects that are
more aligned with the funder’s priorities. Organizations also should seek
opportunities to expand organizational capacity and design programs that will
outlive initial funding source and transcend to other projects that interest funders.
Don and Rosemary Vial Awards for Digital Inclusion
The California Emerging Technology Fund established an awards program in
honor of Don and Rosemary Vial to recognize extraordinary performance and
achievements by CETF grantees and other partners to close the Digital Divide
and promote Digital Inclusion in California. CETF chose Don and Rosemary Vial
to honor because their lives capture the heart and soul of commitment to closing
the Digital Divide and promoting Digital Inclusion. DonVial long served California
as a leader in labor relations, energy policy, and telecommunications, including
as President of the California Public Utilities Commission and Chairman of the
California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy. He had a passion
for harnessing market forces to serve the public good—deeply committed to
improving the lives of all Californians with a practical approach to engaging
diverse stakeholders to find common ground. He was particularly focused on the
quest to use information and advanced telecommunications technology to
empower the less fortunate among us and to tackle poverty. In addition to being
devoted to her family and being a role model of an engaged citizen in civic
affairs, Rosemary Vial always has been an outspoken advocate for those in need
with a passion for fairness and equity. And, she was Don’s partner in life and
public service, always there to inspire and support him. The Vial Awards are
made in two categories: Exemplary Performance by an Individual ($2,500) and
Outstanding Performance by an Organization ($10,000). The inaugural Vial
Awards were presented in December 2010, and the second Awards in 2012. The
next Vial Awards are planned for 2016.
46
2012 Awardees

Recipients, Exemplary Performance by an Individual Award: Deborah Brooks,
The ACME Network, and Pamela Stiles, Robert Louis Stevenson Middle
School

Recipient, Outstanding Performance by and Organization: The ACME
Network
Sidebar: Nominee representatives for Outstanding Performance by an
Organization as they appear from left to right in a photograph
Michael Graff-Weisner for Chrysalis; Peter Manzo for 2-1-1 California; Alicia
Orozco for Chicana/Latina Foundation; Kathy Valenzuela for Latino Community
Foundation; Barrie Hathaway for the STRIDE Center; Linda Garcia for Dewey
Square Group; Bill Watanabe for Little Tokyo Service Center; Rebekah Reali and
Anne Young for Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin
Counties; Bruce Buckelew for Oakland Technology Exchange West; Martina
Tran for Youth Radio; Deborah Brooks for The ACME Network; Steve Karp for
Redwood Coast Connect; Cesar Zaldivar -Motts for Southeast Community
Development Corporation; Louis Nava for San Diego Futures Foundation; and
Sergio Flores for Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School. Also nominated were
Social Interest Solutions & World Institute on Disability.
2012 Vial Awards Panel of Judges (not pictured)
Patrick F. Mason, Ph.D., President, California Foundation for the Environment
and the Economy; Paul Hernández, San Diego Civic Leader and CETF Expert
Advisor; Chet P. Hewitt, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sierra Health
Foundation; Maria Alicia López-Freeman, Executive Director, Emerita, California
Science Project, University of California, Los Angeles; and Dr.Ali Modarres,
Chair, Department of Geosciences and Environment, California State University
Los Angeles.
47
Spotlight on Regional Consortia
Regional Consortia to promote broadband deployment and adoption were
established in the law that expanded and extended the California Advanced
Services Fund (CASF) because data showed that the most cost-effective
deployment projects resulted from a public process informed and facilitated by
regional collaboratives that completed Regional Demand Aggregation Projects
previously funded by CETF. Regional Consortia today are supported by CASF
and managed by the CPUC. The following summarizes the major action items
and deliverables in the Regional Consortia work plans. In general, the Regional
Consortia are conducting a spectrum of community and stakeholder outreach
activities, facilitating cost-effective infrastructure applications to achieve 98%
deployment, and promoting activities to achieve 80% adoption.
Regional Consortium
Central Coast
Broadband
Consortium (CCBC)
Monterey, San Benito
and Santa Cruz
Counties
Action Plan Overview
 Conduct Public Workshops to
Engage Stakeholders
Central Sierra
Connect Broadband
Consortium (CSC)
Amador, Calaveras,
Tuolumne, Mariposa
and Alpine Counties
Connected Capital
Area Broadband
Consortium (CCABC)
Sacramento, Sutter,
Yolo and Yuba
Counties

Build Model Policy Bank and Distribute Information

Inventory Infrastructure Assets and Facilitate
CASF Applications

Identify Infrastructure Projects

Outreach to Disadvantaged Populations and
Provide Training for Adoption

Improve Economic and Education Opportunities

Identify Priority Broadband Infrastructure
Investments and Support Grant Applications

Implement Awareness and Outreach Campaigns
for Broadband Adoption

Educate Policymakers about the Importance of
Broadband and Removing Deployment and
Adoption Barriers
48

Launch East Bay Broadband
Infrastructure Initiative

Establish Get Connected! East Bay Broadband
Solution with Contact Center and Expos

Promote Digital Inclusion in Integrated
Human Services

Follow Progress of Digital 395 and Equip
Locations for Webinars and Classes

Outreach through Community Meetings,
Workshops, Forums and Fairs to Promote
Deployment to Remote Areas

Implement Adoption Programs for Residents
and Businesses
Gold Country
Broadband
Consortium (Gold
Country)
Sierra, Nevada, Placer,
El Dorado and Alpine
Counties
Inland Empire
Regional
Broadband
Consortium (IERB)
San Bernardino and
Riverside Counties
Los Angeles County
Regional
Broadband
Consortium
(LACRBC)
Los Angeles County

Identify Clusters of Demand

Match Clusters to ISPs

Conduct Community Meetings with ISPs to
Facilitate Applications

Identify Infrastructure Projects

Inventory Adoption Programs for Disadvantaged
Residents

Promote Government Policy and Best Practices

Convene Town Hall Meetings and Distribute
Information at County Fair

Establish Free Community WiFi Hot Spots

Conduct Computer Classes and Extend Open
Lab Access
Northeastern
California Connect
Consortium (NECCC)
Siskiyou, Modoc,
Shasta, Lassen,
Tehama, Butte and
Plumas Counties

Form New Corporation to Own, Operate and
Manage Fiber Network

Promote General Plan Policies to Support
Broadband

Develop and Implement Adoption Programs
East Bay Broadband
Consortium (EBBC )
Alameda, Contra Costa
and Solano Counties
Eastern Sierra
Connect Regional
Broadband
Consortium (ESCRBC)
Inyo, Mono and Eastern
Kern Counties
49

Engage Government Agencies in Each County
to Inventory Connections for Anchor Institutions

Promote Approval of General Plan Elements to
Support Broadband

Work with Tribes to Secure Federal Funding
San Diego Imperial
Regional Broadband
Consortium (SDIRBC)
San Diego and Imperial
Counties

Conduct Community Outreach Meetings in
Remote Communities

Facilitate Development of Deployment Projects

Work with County Offices of Education to Survey
Households and Distribute Adoption Information
San Joaquin Valley
Regional Broadband
Consortium (SJVRBC)
Fresno, Kern, Kings,
Madera, Merced, San
Joaquin, Stanislaus and
Tulare Counties
Upstate California
Connect Consortium
(UCCC)
Lake, Glenn, Colusa
and Sonoma Counties

Explore Municipally-Owned Broadband Networks

Pursue Agriculture WiFi Pilot Project as Part of
Strong Cities Strong Communities Program

Monitor Opportunities to Use TV White Space for
Distance Learning

Form New Corporation to Own, Operate and
Manage Fiber Network

Incorporate Policies Into County General Plans

Implement Adoption Programs
Redwood Coast
Connect (RCC)
Del Norte, Humboldt,
Mendocino, and Trinity
Counties
Mapped View of Aggregated Broadband Demand
Regional Projects
The printed version of this annual report includes a map image of the state of
California showing the outlines of each of the state’s 58 counties. Color and
symbols on this map indicate the geographic areas covered by 13 Rural Regional
Consortia and grant impacts. The Rural Regional Consortia are:

Redwood Coast Connect

Upstate California Connect Consortium

Northeastern California Connect Consortium

Connected Capital Area Broadband Consortium

Gold Country Broadband Consortium
50

East Bay Broadband Consortium

Central Sierra Connect

Central Coast Broadband Consortium

San Joaquin Valley Regional Broadband Consortium

Eastern Sierra Connect Regional Broadband Consortium

Los Angeles County Regional Broadband Consortium

Inland Empire Region Broadband Consortium

San Diego Imperial Regional Broadband Consortium
The geographic areas of grant impact are indicated in 44 of the 58 counties
excluding:

Imperial

Marin

Monterey

Napa

Sacramento

San Benito

San Luis Obispo

Santa Barbara

Santa Clara

Santa Cruz

Solano

Sonoma

Ventura

Yolo
51
Spotlight on School2Home Partners
School2Home Transforms Education
Los Angeles Unified School District
Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School, Boyle Heights
Grades 6–8; 2,000 Students; 80 Teachers
Partner: Partnership for Los Angeles Schools
Principal: Leo Gonzalez
Year 4 (Original Pilot School: Continuing)
Muir Middle School, South Los Angeles
Grades 6–8; 1,365 Students; 65 Teachers
Partner: L.A.’s Promise
Principal: Nisha Dugal
Year 1 (Grade 7; 300 Students; 12 Teachers)
San Fernando Institute for Applied Media (SFIAM), San Fernando
Grades 6–8; 420 Students; 18 Teachers
Partner: Youth Policy Institute
Principal: Olivia Robledo
Year 2 (Grades 6–7; 280 Students; 10 Teachers)
Sidebar Quote from Jay McPhail, Director of Instructional Technology,
Riverside Unified School District
“School2Home is changing the way teaching is actually happening in the
classroom because there’s no sense in a teacher teaching facts; when every kid
has a laptop, they can look up that fact in five seconds. It becomes a more
student-centered environment, and the teacher is now teaching concepts and
how to weave those facts and make sure they’re valid, etc., the way teaching
really should happen instead of rote learning.”
Riverside Unified School District
Central Middle School
Grades 7–8; 680 Students; 30 Teachers
Principal: Lynn McCown
Year 3 (Original Pilot School; Renewed
(Full-School Implementation)
52
Chemawa Middle School
Grades 7–8; 1,039 Students; 43 Teachers
Principal: Sean Curtin
Year 1 (Full-School Implementation)
Oakland Unified School District
Frick Middle School
Grades 6–8; 420 Students; 20 Teachers
Principal: Jerome Gourdine
Year 2 (Grades 6–7; 265 Students; 7 Teachers)
Melrose Leadership Academy
Grades 6–8; 210 Students; 10 Teachers
Principal: Moyra Contreras
Year 2 (Grades 6–7; 120 Students; 4 Teachers)
School2Home Is Supported by Educators
and Families
What Students Say
“I think it’s pretty cool…going on the website because you can learn your times
tables better and other things. That’s why I like using a computer at school.”
“During free time I get to use it and search things that we have learned that day
to learn some more.”
“I get to use it at home and at school and it helped me improve my typing…and it
helped me go to websites I never went to before or I never knew about at my
house.”
“I like that we can use them at home and at school…I’m thankful for my
computer.”
53
What Parents Say
“Loved that the school provided a computer to families who did not have a
computer and for parents that had never used a computer. I liked everything.”
“The students have no excuse not to submit their homework.”
“Amazing the possibilities to communicate with teachers and counselors; from
the first year I took the workshop it open a whole world.”
“It helped my child become computer literate. I now have a closer relationship
with my child and his academic progress.”
What Teachers Say
“School2Home is a godsend for my students. I teach in an urban school district
where we hear police sirens and gunfire all day. This program places computers
in my students’ hands and opens up their limited view of the world. School2Home
has expanded their mental and physical horizons.”
“Students are taking the initiative to explore the Internet to find more information
in class. When they see some things on the board, or within the literature they
are reading, they will use the computer to find more information.”
“School2Home has not only created an opportunity for parents and teachers to
communicate regarding students’ academic progress, but it has personalized the
dialogue helping us transform our school into a community where we all are
vested in our students.”
“S2H participation moved us closer to 21st century learning, students are more
inquisitive.”
“School2Home is a cut above the rest. It is putting our students and their parents
well into the 21st Century. What this program does is give our students the tools
enabling them to compete in our highly technical and advanced workplace.
54
School2Home also integrates all stakeholders, forming a vast technical
networking community. I am proud to have School2Home as a learning partner,
as a source of meaningful learning, and as a true leader in providing first rate
technology and skills.”
“School2Home has made me more aware of how to integrate technology in the
classroom and for my students’ home.”
“I believe School2Home helped to improve overall level of students’ school
performance.”
What Principals Say
“We are losing students in our community, as families move away to escape the
violence. School2Home has brought us hope. Student disciplinary problems
decreased last year.”
Jerome Gourdine, Principal, Frick Middle School
“The biggest asset that the School2Home program has brought to our community
is the heightened level of parent participation…that I have never seen in 20 years
of public education experience.”
Pablo Sanchez, Former Principal Central Middle School
School2Home Promotes Academic Improvement
School2Home partners are showing promising gains in academic achievement in
comparison to similar schools statewide, with improved attendance, increased
parent involvement, and decreased discipline problems.

Stevenson gained 35 percentage points on Academic Performance Index
(API) in 2011–12, out-performing LAUSD average gain of 16 points and
overall state average gain of 10 points. More than 80% of parents participated
in computer training.

SFIAM gained 55 percentage points on API in 2011–12.
55

Frick administrators report a dramatic decrease in discipline referrals; 90% of
teachers surveyed observed students more engaged in classroom work.

Central posted academic improvement as an original pilot partner and now
has successfully implemented a robust student technology expert program
which provides basic level technical support to the entire school community.

Chemawa reports that hundreds of parents now monitor their child’s
academic progress online and directly contact teachers by email.
Leadership is Key to Progress
California Legislature Leaders Support Broadband Deployment
and Adoption
Quote From The Honorable Alex Padilla, 20th District Chairman, Senate
Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee
“We are making substantial progress in closing the Digital Divide and connecting
all Californians to high-speed Internet access. We continue to lead the world as
the global epicenter of technology innovation and digital entertainment, but we
need to do more. Nearly 60% of Latino households in California now have
broadband Internet, up from 34% just a few years ago. But that means 40% do
not. All Californians, from all backgrounds and every corner of the state, deserve
online access to compete and succeed in the 21st Century. A high-speed
connection to the Internet is essential in education, the jobs market, health care,
and access to government. The public-private partnerships fostered by the
California Emerging Technology Fund have been key to California’s strategy to
achieve ubiquitous broadband deployment and adoption. Let’s continue to
promote policies and programs that build on the efforts of CETF, the California
Advanced Services Fund, federal broadband grants, and private investment.”
56
Quote From The Honorable Jean Fuller, 18th District Vice Chairman, Senate
Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee
“California is a model to the rest of the country in its commitment to expand
broadband access to rural communities. As Vice Chair of the Senate Energy,
Utilities and Communications Committee, I will continue to pursue policies to
ensure that rural California sees every benefit and opportunity enjoyed by other
communities in the Information Age. As a long-time educator, I understand that
our children must be adequately prepared for tomorrow’s workforce, no matter
where they are from. The California Emerging Technology Fund understands that
local partners made up of schools, churches, and community groups, can be the
most effective at communicating the benefits of broadband and connecting
people with one another. That’s how we will close the Digital Divide in California.”
Quote From The Honorable Steven Bradford, 62nd District Chairman,
Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee
“California is moving ahead on broadband deployment and adoption because of
sustained and focused leadership, the will to make a difference and the
determination not to leave any Californian behind. As Chairman of the Assembly
Committee on Utilities and Commerce, I recognize that far too many Californians,
both in our rural areas as well as our high tech centers, remain on the wrong side
of the Digital Divide. We need to build partnerships with private providers,
regional leaders and community-based organizations and urge federal
communications leaders to work with us to design effective programs that leave
no Californian without easy access to broadband at home and an affordable
computer. Those are truly the lifelines of the Digital Age.”
Quote From The Honorable Jim Patterson, 23rd District Vice Chairman,
Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee
“I am pleased that the Central Valley is showing great progress on broadband
deployment and adoption, closing the gap with the coastal regions and giving our
families, schools and businesses the tools to grow, thrive and start hiring again. I
remember taking office as Mayor of Fresno and how businesses were fleeing.
Many had lost confidence in the city’s future. With focused leadership, we turned
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it around. As a small businessman, I understand the value of staying up on
technology to remain competitive, especially in our increasingly digital economy.
As Vice Chairman of the Utilities and Commerce Committee, I intend to pursue
policies that keep California and our region competitive; access to affordable
technology and Internet connections is a key foundation to make our state an
economic powerhouse once again.”
Quote From Carlos Ramos Secretary of California Technology
“The California Technology Agency supports State programs and departments
through cost effective, innovative, reliable and secure technology. We foster and
promote collaboration among the public, private and non-profit organizations to
make government more efficient and effective and support the understanding of
digital literacy. In doing so, we continue to bridge the Digital Divide and
effectively serve the public. A number of our citizens need affordable access,
training and guidance to technology and broadband connections so that they
may acquire needed state services. The California Emerging Technology Fund is
a valued partner and key leader in reaching underserved communities and
finding new ways to integrate technology training in the delivery of education,
health, employment, housing, legal and financial services. Technology training in
the delivery of public services is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.”
Quote From Kish Rajan Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and
Economic Development
“As the birthplace of so many historic digital technologies, we know in California
that the nature of the worldwide economy is intimately linked to our connectivity.
A greater access to connection technology translates to greater economic
possibilities. Unfortunately, for too many Californians, the opposite is also true. A
diminished range of digital options diminishes their chances for learning, for
quality of life and for the career prospects of the future. Efforts to close our Digital
Divide not only create access for our underserved but also open new channels
for their financial growth. The work of the California Emerging Technology Fund
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is to recognize that to grow the opportunities of Californians we must also grow
their channels to access them.”
California Public Utilities Commission
PRESIDENT
Michael R. Peevey
COMMISSIONERS
Michel Peter Florio
Catherine J.K. Sandoval
Mark J. Ferron
Carla J. Peterman
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Paul Clanon
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE
Karen Clopton
GENERAL COUNSEL
Frank Lindh
California Broadband Council
CHAIRMAN
Michael R. Peevey
President
California Public Utilities Commission
VICE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Alex Padilla
State Senate (D–20th S.D.)
State of California
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The Honorable Steven C. Bradford
Assembly (D–62nd A.D.)
State of California
Carlos Ramos
Secretary of California Technology
State of California
Mark Ghilarducci
Secretary of California Emergency Management
State of California
Tom Torlakson
Superintendent of Public Instruction
State of California
Fred Klass
Director of the Department of General Services
State of California
Brian P. Kelly
Acting Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing
State of California
Sunne Wright McPeak
President and CEO
California Emerging Technology Fund
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CETF Leverages Seed Capital: Summary of
Financial Status
The California Emerging Technology Fund is committed to efficient and effective
use of the Seed Capital which highly leverages other resources: FOCUS –
ACTION – RESULTS
Summary of Financial Status Through Fiscal Year 2011-2012
(Cumulative to June 30, 2012)
Seed Capital Received from AT&T and Verizon:
Interest and Earned Income:
Contributions for Specific Programs:
Government Grants (ARRA NTIA):
Grants Approved To Date: (December 2012)
Grant Payments To Date: (December 2012)
Grant Outstanding Obligations:
Leveraged Match Funding for CETF Grants:
Total Expenditures – Statement of Activities:
— Program Expenditures:
46,715,264 (95%)
— Administrative Support Costs:
2,358,571 ( 5%)
Non-Grant Expenditures – Statement of Activities:
— Program Expenditures:
11,430,883 (83%)
— Administrative Support Costs:
2,358,571 (17%)
School2Home Expenditures To Date: (June 2012)
School2Home Budgeted Expenditures: (June 2013)
Total Assets – Total Liabilities and Equities:
Audited Financial Statements are posted on the CETF website.
$60,000,000
4,044,403
1,227,369
14,359,476
24,509,596
20,516,685
3,992,911
95,510,900
49,073,835
13,789,454
2,660,500
3,554,369
$31,835,078
The CETF Strategic Action Plan aims to close the Digital Divide by achieving
98% deployment and 80% adoption within a decade of beginning operations. The
CETF Board of Directors plans to achieve success by 2017 and conclude
operations, expending all Seed Capital and earnings. Thus, the Total Assets and
Total Liabilities and Equities will continue to decline each Fiscal Year. The overall
goal for the portfolio is to leverage the Seed Capital 4-fold by achieving a 1:3
match by other resources. To date, CETF has achieved and exceeded that goal
with a 1:3.9 match. CETF also operates relatively efficiently in comparison to
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other charitable organizations, with a cumulative 95% in Program and 5% in
Support activities and expenditures according to independent audits.
In addition to the original Seed Capital, the following partners have provided
funding for developing and implementing School2Home: Google, AT&T,
Comcast, Verizon, and IBM.
Sidebar Quote from Rich Motta, CETF Treasurer
“CETF is committed to high productivity and low overhead to optimize impact of
the Seed Capital, which has been leveraged 4-fold through prudent management
and strategic actions.”
California Emerging Technology Fund
Board of Directors
CHAIRMAN
Michael R. Peevey
President
California Public Utilities Commission
SECRETARY
Dr. Barbara O’Connor
Emeritus Director, Institute for the Study of Politics and Media
California State University, Sacramento
Director 2010–2016, AARP
TREASURER
Rich Motta
Retired Vice President
AT&T
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Jeff Campbell
Director, Technology and Trade Policy Global Policy and Government Affairs
Cisco Systems, Inc.
The Honorable Martha M. Escutia
Former California State Senator
Partner, The Senator’s (Ret.) Firm, LLP
Barb Johnston
Chief Executive Officer
HealthLinkNow Inc.
Jim Kirkland
General Counsel
Trimble Navigation Limited
The Honorable Lloyd Levine
Former State Assemblymember
President, Filament Strategies
Leslie Miller
Public Policy Manager
Google Inc.
Gordon R. “Sam” Overton
President
City of Los Angeles
Commission on Disability
Darrell Stewart
Public Sector Manager
Intel, Americas
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Carol Whiteside
Partner
California Strategies, LLC
California Emerging Technology Fund
Board of Expert Advisors
Rachelle Chong
CHAIRMAN, CETF BOARD OF EXPERT ADVISORS
Quote from Rachelle Chong
“California has made significant progress in closing the Digital Divide in the last 5
years because of tremendous focus by a handful of California leaders who
understand that broadband is critical to economic development and social
welfare. The CETF Board of Expert Advisors has added tremendous insights,
diverse expertise and critical analysis when reviewing grant and ARRA
applications. Truly, we could not have achieved so much in so little time without
our own brain trust of California experts drawn from academia, industry,
government, consumer groups and community groups.”
Neal Albritton, President and CEO,
Albritton Disability Consulting Services LLC (ADCS–LLC)
Michael Banner, President and CEO,
Los Angeles Local Development Corporation, Inc. (Los Angeles LDC)
Francois Bar, Associate Professor,
Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California
Thomas Brill, Director, Strategic Analysis, SDG&E
Donna Burke, Retired, AT&T
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Dannielle Campos, Senior Vice President and National Philanthropy Program
Manager, Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Raul Cardoza, Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs,
Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Roger Caves, Professor of City Planning, San Diego State University
Karen Chapple, Faculty Director, Center for Community Innovation,
University of California, Berkeley
Milton Chen, Senior Fellow, The George Lucas Educational Foundation
Steve Clute, Former Representative, National Electrical Contractors Association
Cathy Creswell, Former Acting Director, Department of Housing and Community
Development, State of California
Jim Dolgonas, CEO Emeritus and Consultant,
Corporation for Education Network Initiatives (CENIC)
Chris Eckert, Economic Development and Growth Enterprise (EDGE),
San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce
Laura Efurd, Chief Community Investment Officer, ZeroDivide
Sally Jo Fifer, President and CEO, Independent Television Service (ITVS)
Jim Fruchterman, President, Benetech
Larry Goldberg, Director, The Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for
Accessible Media (NCAM), Media Access Group at WGBH
Jay Gonzalez, Linked Learning Advisor, Career Development,
Los Angeles Unified School District
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Lucy Greco, Assistive Technology Specialist,
University of California, Berkeley and ACCESSACES
Allen Hammond, Phil and Bobbie Sanfilippo Chair and Professor of Law, and
Director of the Broadband Institute of California, Santa Clara University
Dewayne Hendricks, CEO, Tetherless Access
Paul Hernandez, Community Outreach Development, Fab Lab San Diego
Dennis Huang, Executive Director, Asian Business Association
Jarrid Keller, Chief Information Officer, California State Library
Brenda Kempster, President and Founder, Kempster Group
Josh Kirschenbaum, Director of Planning and Development, PolicyLink
Richard Koffler, Chief Executive Officer, Koffler Ventures LLC
Paul Lamb, Consultant, Man on a Mission Consulting
Pat Lanthier, Principal, Rivera/Lanthier and Associates
Margaret Laws, Director, Innovations for the Underserved,
California HealthCare Foundation
Jack Leutza, Retired, California Public Utilities Commission
Maria Alicia Lopez-Freeman, Executive Director, California Science Project
Dierdre Luddington, Associate, Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
Cynthia Mackey, CEO, Winning Strategies LLC
Bryan Martin, President and CEO, 8x8 Incorporated
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Rene Martinez, Vice President, Workforce Education and Economic
Development, East Los Angeles College
Sandi McCubbin, Senior Lobbyist, Lang, Hansen, O’Malley and Miller
Walter McGuire, Director, Flex Your Power
Carolyn McIntyre, President,
California Cable & Telecommunications Association
Milo Medin, Vice President of Access, Google Inc.
Ali Modarres, Chair and Professor of Urban Geography, Department of
Geosciences and Environment, California State University, Los Angeles
Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager, City of San Carlos
Joseph Mouzon, President, GivingSphere
Geoffrey Neill, Legislative Analyst, Revenue and Taxation, California State
Association of Counties
KG Ouye, Partner, Ouye-Mingram Consulting Partners
Manuel Pastor, Professor, American Studies and Ethnicity,
University of Southern California
John Ramos, President, SCV Network
Stewart Ramsay, President, CTC Cable Corporation
Kurt Rasmussen, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, Verizon
Phil Risken, Director, Engineering/Operations, Northern California and Northern
Nevada Region, Sprint Nextel
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Greg Rosston, Deputy Director, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy
Research, Stanford University
Darryl Rutherford, Development Specialist, California Rural Housing
Catherine J. K. Sandoval, Commissioner,
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
Jake Saperstein, Senior Director of Strategic Innovation Alliances, AT&T
Jerry Sheehan, Chief of Staff,
California Institute for Telecom and Information Technology
Jenifer Simpson, Senior Director, Telecommunications and Technology Policy,
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
Kris Stadelman, Director, NOVA
Bea Stotzer, CEO, NEWCapital, LLC
Glen Warren, Vice President, Government Relations,
California School Library Association
Lydia Yu, Senior Analyst, Division of Health Affairs,
University of California, Office of the President
Quote from Rachelle Chong
“Having watched CETF grow from the embryo stage to its fully-hatched status, I
take great pride in the tremendous progress we have made in California to bring
broadband to our residents and to ensure all Californians are digitally literate.
CETF is part of the secret sauce of how California is getting the job done,
because their leader and staff focus on this issue every single day.”
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Rachelle Chong provides a unique national and statewide perspective on the
progress as a distinguished policy leader in California serving in key positions:
Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission and California Public
Utilities Commission; Special Counsel, California Technology Agency; Vice
President, Government Affairs, Comcast.
California Emerging Technology Fund Staff
Sunne Wright McPeak, President and CEO
Susan Walters, Senior Vice President
Alana O’Brien, Vice President Operations
Darren Sandford, Vice President Technology Deployment
Luis Arteaga, Director of Emerging Markets
Agustin Urgiles, Director of Education Applications
Raul Garcia, Financial and Administrative Manager
Gladys Palpallatoc, Associate Vice President
Raquel Cinat, Associate Vice President
Jennifer Riggs, ACT Portfolio Manager
Mary Anne Ostrom, Director of Communications
Dino Nartea, Program Assistant
SCHOOL2HOME
Bonnie Marks, Program Manager
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ACCOUNTANT
Patricia Ahazie, Principal, Core Bookkeeping Solutions
LEGAL COUNSEL
Melinda Guzman
Melinda Guzman, Professional Corporation
Close the Digital Divide:
Empower People and Transform Lives
Statement from Sunne Wright McPeak, President and CEO,
California Emerging Technology Fund
There are many reasons why it is imperative for California to close the Digital
Divide. Broadband is essential 21st Century infrastructure to attract capital
investment, generate jobs and increase economic productivity. High-speed
Internet access coupled with computing technology and digital skills greatly
enhances job opportunities and makes life easier. And, broadband is a green
technology, reducing impacts on the environment. Perhaps the most compelling
reason to bring a depth of commitment and an intensity of focus to the challenge
of closing the Digital Divide is to empower people and transform lives. The most
vulnerable Californians are further disadvantaged if they do not have broadband
access or do not have the requisite devices and skills to get connected. The
Digital Divide is just another manifestation of the Economic Divide and
Opportunity Divide.
We are pleased with the progress that California has made in the last 5 years in
closing the Digital Divide and appreciate that those accomplishments are being
recognized with high rankings from respected independent sources. However,
we are very mindful that there is a lot of work still to be done to meet the 98%
deployment and 80% adoption goals—225,000 rural households in remote
communities need access to broadband infrastructure and more than 880,000
households mostly in poorer neighborhoods need to get connected. Fortunately,
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there is ample evidence about “what works” as a result of on-the-ground
experience with a network of community organizations, local government
officials, and regional civic leaders. However, although CETF operates very
efficiently and has effectively leveraged the original seed capital with a track
record of grantee partners meeting and exceeding performance outcomes,
accomplishing the goals for closing the Digital Divide will require new public
policy and additional resources.
In California it will be pivotal for the Legislature and Governor to amend and
extend the California Advanced Services Fund and to implement
recommendations from the California Broadband Council for integrating
broadband into major statewide initiatives. But, the biggest potential for gamechanging action is in the hands of the Federal Communications Commission in
implementation of the National Broadband Plan through redesign of the Universal
Services Fund (especially the Connect America Fund and Broadband Adoption
Lifeline Program) and oversight of other programs such as Connect2Compete.
The federal government must work in partnership with states to close the Digital
Divide. The California Emerging Technology Fund stands willing and ready to be
a partner in the quest to empower people and transform lives.
CETF Contact Information
The Hearst Building
5 Third Street, Suite 320
San Francisco, CA 94103-3206
415-744-CETF (2383)
415-744-2399 Fax
1000 North Alameda, Suite 240
Los Angeles, CA 90012-4297
213-443-9952
213-613-0362 Fax
www.cetfund.org
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